This bronze sculpture of Anne Frank stands on the Westermarkt in Amsterdam near the Anne Frank House. It was created by Mari S. Andriessen, and unveiled in 1977. The sculpture reminds passers-by of Anne Frank, the Second World War and the Holocaust. There are various reasons why Anne Frank is so well-known. First of all, because the diary is so well-written. People all over the world can identify with Anne.

She describes precisely what she thought and felt in the Secret Annex, and what it’s like growing up. She argues with her parents, falls in love, thinks about her future… yet at the same time most readers know that she did not survive the war, and that makes the diary very dramatic. The life and death of Anne Frank also give us a glimpse of how terrible the Holocaust was.

Play and film

It’s true that many other diaries have been published. But one thing that is special about the diary of Anne Frank is that the place where it was written has been preserved, and also that there are many photos of her. Furthermore, Otto Frank worked tirelessly after the war to publicize the diary. Above all, the diary of Anne Frank has become famous because of the stage play and the film which were made of it.